Corrective Measures for the property

1. An International Seminar on the conservation of Historic Cairo, with multi-disciplinary planning workshops focused on specific projects, to be organized in early 2002. Periodic reviewing seminars of the current projects will also be held.

2. The establishment within the premises of a restored monument, of a permanent Information Centre on Historic Cairo World Heritage site and current conservation efforts

3. The preparation of a Conservation Manual, with technical specifications and detailed descriptions of the types of work most commonly required for the conservation and maintenance of historic building within the city of Cairo.

Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2003

In 2002, the Committee was informed by the Secretariat of a project, proposed by the Governorate of Cairo, to execute a new road in the southern sector of Fatimid Cairo. The Egyptian Authorities assured the Secretariat, by letter of 15 April 2003, that the construction of the above-mentioned road through the Southern sector of Islamic Cairo (Darb El Ahmar, Bab Zuweyla) has been halted so as to preserve the original urban texture of the city as well as the monuments located in the area.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2003

Adopted

Draft Decision

27 COM 7B.36

Islamic Cairo (Egypt)

The World Heritage Committee [22],

1. Commends, with gratitude, the State Party for halting the implementation of the proposed new road through the Southern sector of Islamic Cairo;

1. Recognizes that this type of recurrent problem should be addressed in a global manner and preventively in the framework of a comprehensive urban conservation plan;

3. Encourages the State Party to implement, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre, the recommendations of the International Symposium held in Cairo in February 2002, and particularly to:

(a) designate Historic Cairo as a Special Planning District, with buffer zones, in accordance with the prescriptions of the Operational Guidelines for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention;

(b) Prepare a comprehensive Urban Plan for the Conservation and Development of the Old City, whereby the conservation of historic buildings would be accompanied by appropriate development regulations to encourage the rehabilitation of the urban fabric so as to ensure its compatibility with the historic character of Islamic Cairo;

4. Invites the State Party to submit a report to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2004, on progress on these actions for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 28th session in 2004.

1. Commending, with gratitude, the State Party for halting the implementation of the proposed new road through the Southern sector of Islamic Cairo,

2. Recognizing that this type of recurrent problem should be addressed in a global manner and preventively in the framework of a comprehensive urban conservation plan,

3. Encourages the State Party to implement, in consultation with the Centre, the Recommendations of the International Symposium held in Cairo in February 2002, and particularly to:

- Designate Historic Cairo as a Special Planning District, with buffer zones, in accordance with the prescriptions of the Operational Guidelines for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention,

- Prepare a comprehensive Urban Plan for the Conservation and Development of the Old City, whereby the conservation of historic buildings would be accompanied by appropriate development regulations to encourage the rehabilitation of the urban fabric so as to ensure its compatibility with the historic character of Islamic Cairo,

4. Invites the State Party to submit a report on the progress on these actions at the 28th session of the World Heritage Committee (2004).

* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).